Rebel councillors from Reform UK have launched a dramatic bid to expel asylum seekers from hotels across West Northamptonshire, declaring the current system an 'unacceptable' burden on local communities and public funds.
The group, led by outspoken councillor James McQueen, has tabled a motion demanding the Conservative-led authority immediately cease using local hotels for housing migrants. The motion is set to spark a fiery debate at a full council meeting next month.
The Motion: A Direct Challenge to Government Policy
The proposed motion delivers a blistering critique of the Home Office's migrant housing strategy. It accuses the government of creating a 'two-tier system' where local residents are sidelined in favour of new arrivals.
Central to the argument is the staggering financial cost. Councillor McQueen claims the policy is draining public coffers, citing an estimated £3 million spent by the local council in just 18 months on associated support services.
'Our Residents Come First': The Councillors' Stance
Councillor McQueen did not mince words, stating the motion is about prioritising the needs of local people. "Our residents are being failed... while millions are spent on housing illegal economic migrants in hotels," he said.
He further argued that the policy has severe knock-on effects, exacerbating the local housing crisis and placing immense strain on community services that are already stretched to their limit.
A National Issue with Local Consequences
This confrontation in West Northamptonshire is a microcosm of a fierce national debate. The motion explicitly calls out the record number of small boat crossings and labels the government's Rwanda deportation plan a costly failure that has yet to see a single flight take off.
The councillors' bold move signals a growing trend of local authorities pushing back against central government directives on immigration, setting a potential precedent for other disgruntled councils across the UK.
The upcoming council vote will be a crucial test of local sentiment and could mark a significant moment in the ongoing struggle over how Britain houses its asylum seekers.
